Page 54 of Cruel Ice

Yes, that was what she’d meant.

His hand fell away from her. “Let me just be very clear.”

That would be wonderful. The clearer, the better.

“Wherever I am, you are welcome to be. Consider that an open invitation. You aren’t an acquaintance. You aren’t a quick fuck.”

“What am I?” Oh, no. Why had she even asked the question? Marley shook her head and brushed by him. With every step, she was acutely conscious of the fact that she wore no underwear. A little quiver shot through her.

His steps followed behind her. “You’re my?—”

“PI?” she asked as she turned back toward him.

“My Marley.”

His voice had gone extra deep and rumbly. And it poured over her in all the wrong and right ways.

“And, for the record, I don’t typically laugh much.” His hand sawed over his face. His fingers brushed against his scar. Lingered for just a moment. “Hasn’t been a whole lot in my life to laugh about.”

No, she didn’t imagine there had been. “Maybe we can change that.”

He advanced toward her. His slow, stalking steps eliminated the distance she’d created. “Marley.” He spoke her name like a caress. “I will never be the guy who is the life of the party. I won’t be telling jokes. I won’t be laughing and fitting in with all the BSthat is tossed around in life. Idon’tfit in. I’m not like everyone else. I don’t feel like everyone else.” His lips curled down. “You—above all others—know that monsters can pretend to blend in. I don’t give a fuck about blending. I am what I am.”

“I like what you are.”

A muscle flexed along his jaw. “You can’t.”

This time, she was the one to touch him. Her hand rose. Pressed to his cheek. “I do.”

She didn’t know how to describe the expression in his eyes. His gaze glittered. Lit with so much unnamed emotion that the gold in his hazel eyes blazed at her. “I like you,” she said softly.

“Fuck.”

Her lips curled. “Does that mean you like me, too?”

His hand took hers. His fingers threaded with hers. “Likedoesn’t enter the equation.”

Oh. Her smile faded.

He hauled her out of his office. Turned off the lights. Locked it. Paused a moment to tap something into his phone and then used the secure elevator entrance—the one that needed a special code to get up to his level. She’d gotten that code after badgering James forever.

The elevator doors closed, sealing them inside as the elevator began its descent.

Declan pushed her against the elevator wall. He caged her there with his body. “Likeis far too tame a word. I want to own you. Possess you completely.” His mouth took hers. His tongue swept inside. Tasted and teased and consumed. “And fucking keep you.”

He’d let go of her hand when he caged her against the wall. So her happy hands curled around his neck. One even moved to sink into the softness of his hair. When his mouth took hers again, she was so ready. He kissed her with a consuming focusthat swept away everything else. As if she was truly the only thing that mattered in his world.

Her heart drummed. Her body tightened. And her sex got way eager and wet for him again.Not wearing panties. He could lift me up against this wall. Shove the dress out of the way. Take me right here the way he took me in his?—

Ding.

His head lifted.

It took a slow moment for thatdingto register. And then the elevator doors were sliding open. She couldn’t see them, but she could hear the faint rumble as they parted.

“Ahem.” A throat cleared.

Declan let her go. Turned toward the now open elevator doors.

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